My Hero's Journey

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Transcript of My Hero's Journey

Fifth Grade AbroadPart 1Part 2Part 3Part 4Ordinary WorldIt was the end of fourth grade. The "graduation" ceremony had just taken place outside Eberwhite Elementary school. The flag raising, the choir singing, a big long speech. That was all over. And it was summer now.

Call To AdventureAbout in May before graduation, my dad received a letter stating that he had received a Fulbright Fellowship – we would be moving to Germany for one year while my dad taught there. I, being 10 at the time, was required to go to school, implying a random school switch between fourth and fifth grade in a foreign country.

Refusal Of The CallNaturally I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay at home with my best friend Elise for the entire year, especially because I knew I wasn't going to the same school as my friends when I got back. I would be going to this place called "Greenhills" which was (now looking back at it) wrongly depicted as "filled with stuck up, rich, smart people". I begged my mom until the day before our flight was to let me stay home.

Meeting The Mentor(s)Before I left, Elise held this giant goodbye party for me and invited all of my friends and people in our neighborhood. It made me feel a lot better. Towards the end of the party, Elise hugged me and said "Don't worry, we won't forget you. We'll be waiting for you when you come back."

Crossing The ThresholdI remember that plane ride. It was horrible. I felt sick the entire time and for a long time I wasn't able to hear a word anyone said because my ears couldn't be popped until hours later. Towards the end of the flight the co captain came down to my seat and handed me a pin that they wear on their uniforms. He said "compliments of the captain", smiled and turned to go back to the front. I felt so special to be in possession of this item and it made the rest of the trip a little bit better.

Tests, Allies, and EnemiesDuring my school time, I made friends, especially one girl named Luisa. Both of us were kind of outcasts in my class at that time and we became good friends. I also became really good friends with one of my neighbors, Elena. I made other friends, too, and went shopping, ate ice cream and went swimming with them. Naturally I had to keep my grades up, which was not so easy as it sounds. Taking classes and relearning everything, but in a different language was tough.

Innermost CaveMy final test was my German final. In Germany, they take "German", just like we take English. German is my native language, but back then I wasn't good enough to say, teach a class. I had to take the German final and get a good grade on it. *speaks sarcastically* No pressure here. Before the test, while expressing my concern, my friend said that I shouldn't worry, and that I would be fine. I smiled, glad to know someone believed in me.

OrdealI walk into the classroom and quietly sit down. All the things that I studied flash through my mind. All I could do then was sit, take the test and hope for the best. I notice my friends calmly sitting and writing with their Lamy pens as if nothing was going on. I, on the other hand was sweating terribly, and towards the end, my hand was shaking so much that it was impossible for me to write even a letter.RewardThe classroom was dark. It was stormy outside. I was the first one to receive my graded final out of everyone in my class. I took a deep breath, and slowly opened the cover. Everyone was waiting desperately to find out how I did. I squinted because it was hard to see the grade. It said "1-" which is equivalent to an A-. I couldn't believe it at first. My teacher walked past me, patted me on the back and said "good job". I floated all the way home.Road BackAfter getting this grade, and ending up with a B+ in the class, I was ready to go home, and start my new school without my friends.ResurrectionWhile thinking about my year in Germany on the plane ride home, I wrote in my diary, "Now that I've succeeded even in a different language, I am ready to start a new school. I am ready to go to Greenhills and succeed just like I did here. I learned that grades aren't everything. I mean, what really counts is how much work you put into it. And usually, the work pays off. Just like my grade. "Return With ElixirI went on to Greenhills after my return and succeeded there, too. Meeting friends for life, graduating as a Scholar two years in a row, presenting to a Senator, winning states in forensics, becoming an ambassador for GHS, being part of 3 plays... These are just a few of the accomplishments I pushed myself towards. And now I'm ready to see what accomplishments I'll add to that list at WiHi.This is for Elise, EMAbonn, and my Greenhills friends